Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Purple Heart. European Campaign Medal. Asia Campaign Medal. Michael Corleone is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Mario Puzo 's novel, The Godfather. Michael is the youngest son of Vito Corleone , a Sicilian immigrant who builds a Mafia empire. Upon his father's death, Michael succeeds him as the don of the Corleone crime family. In June , Michael Corleone was recognized as the 11th most iconic villain in film history by the American Film Institute , although some critics consider him to be a tragic hero. The family consigliere , Tom Hagen Robert Duvall , is their informal adoptive brother. Unlike his two older brothers, Michael renounces the Corleone "family business", wanting instead to lead a more Americanized life.
Corleone crime family
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In a story about crime, Vito was a character who was as anti-gangster as you can think of. He was a family man who chose the mob life to bring security to his loved ones, and conducted his business very close to the legitimate level. While he was still a criminal, he was also a sharp man with a lot of wisdom to impart. It was here when Vito swiftly silenced Sonny and excused the interruption as him having spoiled his son. The Don knew what he was talking about when he wanted his kids to listen, not talk. Bonasera came to Vito asking him to take out the thugs who had manhandled his daughter, shredding away the facade of the everyman persona he had worked his life to put up. Johnny was clearly playing the situation up to gain sympathy, but it was also obvious that Vito understood this, which was why he was so harsh with his godson. The Don would do anything for family, but he wasn't going to play the fool. By the time Michael had been placed as the head of the Corleone family, the situation was in dire straits for the main characters.
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Shortly afterward, he founded the Genco Pura Olive Oil Company as a front for his criminal activities. Around , Vito formally organized the family, with Genco as his consigliere and Peter and Sal as caporegimes. It was during this time that Vito's eldest son, Sonny , made his reputation and eventually became a capo himself. The family were instrumental in establishing the Commission in In , a business proposition from drug kingpin Virgil Sollozzo nearly destroyed the family, hospitalising Don Vito and forcing his eldest son Sonny in action. The family were dealt another crippling blow with their biggest asset Luca Brasi getting taken by surprise and murdered by Sollozzo. The situation went onto even further escalate when the youngest Corleone brother Michael killed Sollozzo and his bodyguard, Captain McCluskey , forcing him to flee to Sicily. This event triggered the Five Families War. The war claimed the life of acting don Sonny, and the still weak Don Vito sued for peace with the other families , realising that his true enemy was Emilio Barzini , who was attempting to crush the Corleones and become the most powerful don in New York.
He is an orphaned Sicilian immigrant who builds a Mafia empire. Vito informally adopts Sonny's friend, Tom Hagen , who becomes his lawyer and consigliere. Upon Vito's death, Michael succeeds him as Don of the Corleone crime family. Vito oversees a business founded on gambling , bootlegging , prostitution , and union corruption, but he is known as a kind, generous man who lives by a strict moral code of loyalty to friends and, above all, family. He is also known as a traditionalist who demands respect commensurate with his status; even his closest friends refer to him as "Godfather" or "Don Corleone" rather than "Vito". Vito Andolini's story begins in Corleone , Sicily. He was born on December 7, In , the local mafia chieftain , Don Ciccio, murders Vito's father Antonio when he refuses to pay him tribute.
